Local News

By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Kern River Valley residents will have two opportunities in November to get their pets spayed or neutered for free.

On Nov. 16 and 30, the Fabulous Fall Fix Event will take place in the Vons parking lot at 5610 Lake Isabella Blvd. in Lake Isabella, according to a news release from Kern County Animal Control. Those who are interested need to make an appointment beforehand with AngelDogs Foundation by calling 1-888-504-SPAY.

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Pet owners with spayed or neutered dogs that have proof of rabies vaccinations can also get a free one-year county license, according to the news release. Those without proof of vaccination can come to the mobile clinics, get vaccinated for $10, then receive the free license.

More than 75 teenagers from south Kern County have been collecting items to donate to the Bakersfield Homeless Center in a presentation on Saturday.

For the past two weeks, teens from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have collected food, clothing and other necessities, according to a news release from the church. They have been doing so as part of a service project for a conference they will attend.

The items will be presented to the homeless center at a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at a church location, 2801 S. Real Road.

Through two fundraisers from August to September, Kern Schools Federal Credit Union raised more than $5,000 for Children's Miracle Network at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.

On Oct. 30, Kern Schools presented Children's Miracle Network with a check for $5,430.90, according to a news release from the credit union.

One of the fundraisers was the Miracle Balloon campaign, where members could donate $1 or more to write their name on a red and yellow paper balloon that would be displayed in branch lobbies.

The other fundraiser was the Miracle Jeans Day campaign, where employees could donate $5 to wear jeans on any given work day.

The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic is looking for sponsors to buy Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gifts for families who use the clinic.

For the past 14 years, the clinic has organized the Holiday Families Program, where sponsors are matched with families who fill out a confidential wish list. The sponsors buy the items on the wish list for the clinic to give to the families.

More families need help this year than last, and there are still many families without a sponsor, according to a news release from the clinic. People can also make toy and monetary donations. To sponsor a family or make a donation, call 322-1021.

Hall founder and Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall donated the equipment in a ceremony Friday, according to a Hall Ambulance news release.

Later in November, Hall and the Bakersfield Fire Department will send staff members to Queretaro for the second time to conduct training with the city's local EMTs, paramedics and firefighters.

A $5,000 grant will help underprivileged youth in Frazier Park attend a summer camp put on by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County.

Edison International awarded the grant to the Boys and Girls Clubs, according to a news release from the club. The grant will go toward allowing children to attend the camp for free or at a reduced price.

During the camp on the Frazier Park School campus, children go on field trips, explore the community and participate in enrichment programs to not lose what they've learned in school over the summer.

The benefit supports a program that helps veterans connect with employers, schools and other resources to find careers in the agriculture industry, according to a news release from the International Agri-Center.

The body of a large paddle-tailed rodent was found early Tuesday in the traffic lanes of southbound Mohawk Street north of Truxtun Avenue, suggesting Bakersfield's fabled bike path beaver -- scourge of local saplings -- may have died.

The lush grasses and sweeps of wildflowers cloak much of the damage to the small canyon in a blanket of ephemeral green. But Ellen Cypher and Erin Tennant can see it as they walk along a sandy route that has been churned into the bottom of the wash by motorcyclists and quad riders.

Californian columnist Lois Henry's discussion about fireworks Wednesday on "First Look with Scott Cox" was as explosive as a firework itself. She didn't hold anything back as she described the Kern County Supervisor's decision Tuesday to continue allowing Piccolos and ground flowers to be sold in...